How to make a Long Island Iced Tea

The bad news is, this is their closing weekend. The good news is, you have one more chance to see Custom Made’s, Prelude to a Kiss. How many ways are there to tell the timeless, “switched souls” story? Boy meets girl. Boy and girl fall in love and get married. Girl grants the seemingly innocent wish of the mysterious drunk old man at the wedding. That wish happens to be a kiss from the bride, which causes the two souls to switch bodies. It sounds like something Meg Ryan should have done in the 90’s. Oh wait... She did! The set design (Andrew Cummings) was interesting. A skyscape pattern adorned the stage, and a giant tree branch hung from the ceiling. The careening clouds projected onto the backdrop became less distracting a few minutes into the show. Nick Trengrove (Peter) and Allison Page (Rita) will make you believe that their love transcends outward appearance. Trengrove delivers the expositional monologues with ease, several in his underwear. Richard Wenzel (The Old Man) actually becomes Rita before your eyes. I was convinced that Peter truly meant the words, “I adore you.” William Leschber’s performance as Peter’s best friend, Taylor, was lively and animated. I found myself struggling, however, to hear many of his lines. Dave Sikula and Jan Carty Marsh portray Dr. and Mrs. Boyle, Rita’s loving but out of touch parents. The fact that Dr. Boyle wears his watch too far up on his arm is easily dismissed when he informs us of his saxophone shaped scar. The final supporting actors, Charles Lewis III, and Elena Ruggiero, show off their range. Lewis first appears as Tom, Rita’s friend and co-worker at the bar. He later re-emerges as The Minister, and then as The Jamaican Waiter. Ruggiero effortlessly transforms herself from the obnoxious Aunt Dorothy to the demure Leah Blyer. You don’t want to miss your last opportunity to see this show as envisioned by director, Stuart Bousel. The countdown is on until the next and final performance. Sunday, June 16, 2013, at 7:00 PM. Sure it’s short notice, but as Rita and The Old Man tell us, “All you’ve gotta do is want it bad enough.”